Who to Call About a Chicago Building Violation

There is no one City of Chicago building violations phone number that answers every question, and the City's own sources point to different places depending on what you need. We could not verify a direct Department of Buildings phone line from the pages we rely on, so we are not printing one. Dialing 311 and the contact information on the Department's page are the starting points, and the number printed on your notice beats any number you find online.

Which call fits your situation?

Why the hearings department is not the one to ask about the citation

The Department of Administrative Hearings does not investigate, file or prosecute cases. The Department of Buildings files the Notice of Violation, and the hearings department's own guidance says questions about why you were cited go to the issuing department (City of Chicago). Calling the wrong office is how owners lose a morning.

The notice itself is your best contact sheet. It generally states the alleged violation, the date, time and place, and your options, including whether you must appear or how to request a hearing (City of Chicago). For follow-up inspections tied to a case, the City says they are scheduled through the case, and if you are in Circuit Court a court inspector is assigned and you call the number on the notice (City of Chicago). Our guide to reading the notice goes line by line, and what your notice number is for explains how to identify your case when you call.

What to have ready before you call

• The address and the notice or case number, if you have one.
• The date on the notice and any hearing date.
• Photos of the condition and of any repair already done.
• A pen. Write down the name, date and what you were told.

And if you want the building fixed?

That is a different call. Our building code violations team is licensed and insured in Illinois, bilingual in English and Spanish, and can read your notice and look at the building. Call 312-339-9627 or 312-497-5751. We do not speak for the City. Questions about the citation itself still go to the Department of Buildings. To report a problem building, see what 311 does. The full path is in the Chicago building violations guide.

Common questions

This article explains general rules and common situations in Chicago. It is not legal advice, and City rules change. For a specific property, check with the Chicago Department of Buildings or a licensed professional.